Dynamic computer marketplace system and method

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and apparatuses are disclosed for implementation and management of a dynamic compute and application marketplace. The dynamic computer marketplace system can coordinate access to one or more other computing resources, including on-premises computing resources, external (or off-premises) computing resources or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, the dynamic computer marketplace system advantageously can be used to facilitate inter-provider migration, transparent pricing, and/or competitive pricing, among other things.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/584,269, filed Nov. 10, 2017, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety and for all purposes.

FIELD

This specification relates generally to dynamic cloud platforms,resource aggregation (such as compute capability, storage, and/ornetwork provisioning), and management of computer application code,including systems, apparatuses and methods for making and using thesame.

The systems, apparatuses and methods disclosed herein describeparticular embodiments, such as those including economic models ofsupply and demand, commodity pricing, and futures, and are not intendedto be exhaustive of the contemplated configurations and processes.

BACKGROUND

In traditional marketplaces, users typically choose a permanent orsemi-permanent cloud service provider or compute service provider.Pricing can be difficult to discover and predict, and moving betweencloud service or compute service providers can be inefficient orotherwise difficult.

For example, pricing is often obfuscated due to multiple configurationoptions, making direct comparison between providers very difficult. Assuch, users may opt to stay with a chosen provider regardless of pricingchanges or other issues, due to the uncertainty and high overhead andcost of switching to another provider.

There exists a need for simplifying the management and operation ofcomputer marketplaces, including the selection process and movementamong multiple cloud service providers or compute service providers.

SUMMARY

This specification describes new technologies relating to compute andapplication marketplaces. According to various principles andembodiments discussed herein, a platform can provide, for example, apublic marketplace of cloud and/or compute providers along with anapplication marketplace comprised of proprietary, pay-per-useapplications as well as open source and other free applications.

The principles described herein provide for a platform that allows foreasy inter-provider migration, competitive pricing based on a common setof configuration options, and clear and transparent application pricing,among other things. According to various embodiments, for example, theplatform can provide unified pricing units (currency) for compute,storage, and networking capability, thereby making comparison simplerand more efficient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The FIGURE illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a dynamic computermarketplace system.

It should be noted that the FIGURE is not drawn to scale and thatelements of similar structures or functions are generally represented bylike reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the FIGURE.It also should be noted that the FIGURE is only intended to facilitatethe description of the preferred embodiments. The FIGURE does notillustrate every aspect of the described embodiments and does not limitthe scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for implementing andmaintaining a dynamic computer marketplace. In other words, theprinciples set forth herein are primarily directed to marketplaceconcepts and deployment of a dynamic computer marketplace. According tovarious embodiments, the dynamic computer marketplace systems,apparatuses and methods include, or are operated in accordance with, oneor more of the following attributes.

First, currency units can be made available and used for, among otherthings, compute, storage, and/or network capability. The currency units,for example, can be based on common metrics, such as execution time fora selected benchmark for compute; size, input/output operations persecond (or IOPs), and bandwidth for storage and/or bandwidth and latencyfor networking.

Second, a platform can be provided for aggregating compute resources(both service and batch-based resources). For example, this platform canbe of the type disclosed in the commonly-owned U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/584,274, entitled “Dynamic Network ofSupercomputing Resources with Unified Management Interface,” filed Nov.10, 2017, and co-pending United States Nonprovisional PatentApplication, entitled “Dynamic Network of Supercomputing Resources withUnified Management Interface,” filed on the same date herewith, whichpatent applications are assigned to the assignee of the present patentapplication and the respective disclosures of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties and for allpurposes.

Third, a platform can be provided for the listing and possible sale ofapplications. For example, vendors may choose to charge per-use, byconfiguration used, by the hour, or other metrics.

Fourth, the marketplace can be configured for the purchase and sale ofcurrency units, and for management of account balances.

The FIGURE illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a dynamic computermarketplace system 100 in accordance with various embodiments. Turningto the FIGURE, the dynamic computer marketplace system 100 is shown asincluding a plurality of computing resources. The system resources caninclude a central control system 210 for coordinating access to one ormore other computing resources. The central control system 210 can beprovided in any conventional manner and can include one or more hardwarecomponents, such as a computer system and/or a server system, and/or oneor more software components, such as a software module. As shown in theFIGURE, for example, the central control system 210 can communicate withat least one storage device 220. Each storage device 220 can be separatefrom, and/or at least partially integrated with, the central controlsystem 210.

As illustrated in the FIGURE, the central control system 210 cancoordinate access to one or more other computing resources residing at aparticular site or other selected geographic location 200. The computingresources can be disposed at geographic locations 200 that are proximalto, and/or distal from, a location of the central control system 210. Inselected embodiments, the central control system 210 can coordinateaccess to one or more clusters 230A, 230B and/or workstations 240residing at a particular site. Each cluster 230, such as cluster 230A,can be associated with one or more storage devices 235. The centralcontrol system 210 can be configured to exchange jobs 270 with theclusters 230 and/or the workstations 240. The jobs 410 can be exchangeddirectly, and/or indirectly via a job build device 270, with theclusters 230 and/or the workstations 240.

Additionally and/or alternatively, the central control system 210 cancoordinate access to one or more external computing resources. Statedsomewhat differently, the external computing resources can be disposedat geographic locations 300 that are remote (or external) from thecentral control system 210. Exemplary external computing resources caninclude, but are not limited to, supercomputer centers 310 and/or cloudproviders 320. As illustrated in the FIGURE, for example, the cloudproviders 320 can include cloud computing services provided by AmazonWeb Services, Inc., Microsoft Azure developed by Microsoft Corporationand/or another partner. As shown in the FIGURE, the central controlsystem 210 can be configured to exchange jobs 370 with one or more ofthe external computing resources.

The central control system 210 advantageously can provide a centralmarketplace for users to purchase resources, such as a softwaredeveloper's kit (or SDK) 250, that may be made available by providers255 and/or applications 260 that may be made available from independentsoftware vendors (ISVs) 265 and/or packaged by other users. In themanner set forth above, an exemplary platform for aggregating thediverse set of the computing resources as illustrated in the FIGURE isset forth in the commonly-owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 62/584,274, entitled “Dynamic Network of Supercomputing Resourceswith Unified Management Interface,” filed Nov. 10, 2017, and co-pendingUnited States Nonprovisional Patent Application, entitled “DynamicNetwork of Supercomputing Resources with Unified Management Interface,”filed on the same date herewith, which patent applications are assignedto the assignee of the present patent application and the respectivedisclosures of which have been incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties and for all purposes.

The dynamic computer marketplace system 100 advantageously can offervarious benefits of a marketplace as disclosed herein. Unlike variousconventional marketplaces, the dynamic computer marketplace system 100can offer a dynamic environment that allows one or more participants,who can enter, remain in and/or exit the marketplace in a random manner,to purchase, sell, and/or re-price computing resources. In selectedembodiments, the computing resources can include computing resources ofone or more various types. Exemplary types of computing resources caninclude computing time, software, and other resources such as networkingand storage, without limitation. In the case of a public implementationof the dynamic computer marketplace system 100, for example, theprinciples described herein can reduce and/or eliminate barriers toentry by new participants wanting to monetize their computing resourcesand/or purchase computing resources from others.

Among other things, for example, providers of compute services and/orapplications can have access to pricing and other information availablefrom their competitors and have an option to adjust pricing and otherterms for their compute services and/or applications based on thecompetitor information, demand and/or desired utilization rates.Additionally, the use of currency can allow creation of aself-sustaining market for an exchange and/or storage of capability,allowing for a commodities market of sorts, complete with futures andspeculation.

Although various implementations are discussed herein and shown in theFIGURE, it will be understood that the principles described herein arenot limited to such. For example, while particular scenarios arereferenced, it will be understood that the principles described hereinapply to any suitable resource or provider, including but not limited topublic and private cloud platforms, data centers or intra-companyplatforms, any suitable form or type of resource aggregation (e.g.,compute capability, storage, and network provisioning), and any suitableoffering, such as computer application code.

Accordingly, although particular embodiments have been described aboveand shown in the diagram, the principles described herein can be appliedto different types of marketplace solutions. Certain embodiments havebeen described for the purpose of simplifying the description and arepresent for purposes of illustration only. It will also be understoodthat reference to a “device,” “server” or other hardware or softwareterms herein can refer to any other type of suitable device, component,software, and so on. Moreover, the principles discussed herein can begeneralized to any number and configuration of devices and protocols,and can be implemented using any suitable type of digital electroniccircuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware. Accordingly,while this specification highlights particular implementation details,these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of anyinvention or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions offeatures that may be specific to particular embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dynamic supply and demand computer marketplacesystem, comprising: a central control system comprising at least one ofa computer and a server, the central control system being configured to:implement the dynamic supply and demand computer marketplace such thatthe dynamic supply and demand computer marketplace includes at leastfutures and commodity pricing for a plurality of computing resourcecapabilities, wherein at least one of the plurality of computingresource capabilities includes a capability measured in execution timefor a selected benchmark for compute, coordinate access to a pluralityof computing resources each providing access to at least one computingresource capability from the plurality of computing resourcecapabilities, wherein at least one of the plurality of computingresources is disposed at a selected geographic location distal from ageographic location of the central control system, and wherein at leastone of the plurality of computing resources includes one or morethird-party provider servers that provide a software developer's kit,make one or more currency units available for the plurality of computingresource capabilities, wherein at least one of the one or more currencyunits is based on bandwidth and latency for networking, allow each ofthe plurality of computing resource capabilities to be purchased, sold,and exchanged using the one or more currency units, wherein at least oneof the plurality of computing resource capabilities is presentable as acommodity and futures, provide, on the dynamic supply and demandcomputer marketplace to a first provider, accesses to informationincluding pricing, demand, utilization rates, and terms of all theplurality of computing resource capabilities for sale on the dynamicsupply and demand computer marketplace, including competitorinformation, offer, by the first provider, at least one of the pluralityof computing resource capabilities for sale on the dynamic supply anddemand computer marketplace, purchase, by a user, the at least onecomputing resource capability from the first provider using the one ormore currency units, re-price, by the user, the purchased computingresource capability on the dynamic supply and demand computermarketplace, wherein the re-pricing includes a futures and commodityprice, offer, by the user, the re-priced purchased computing resourcecapability on the dynamic supply and demand computer marketplace, basedon the offered re-priced purchased computing resource capability,provide an option to the first provider to adjust pricing to the atleast one of the plurality of computing resource capabilities offered bythe first provider; and a computer network for enabling communicationbetween the central control system and the plurality of computingresources, wherein the central control system maintains the dynamiccomputer marketplace.
 2. The dynamic computer marketplace system ofclaim 1, further comprising an application marketplace comprised ofproprietary, pay-per-use applications and free applications.
 3. Thedynamic computer marketplace system of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe plurality of computing resources includes one or more clusters, oneor more workstations or a combination thereof.
 4. The dynamic computermarketplace system of claim 2, wherein the marketplace system providesmigration between providers.
 5. The dynamic computer marketplace systemof claim 1, wherein the plurality of computing resource capabilitiesfurther includes at least a storage capability, a network capability, acapability of software access, and a capability of computing resourceaccess, and wherein at least one of the plurality of computing resourcesincludes one or more supercomputer centers.
 6. The dynamic computermarketplace system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or morethird-party provider servers provide an application.
 7. The dynamiccomputer marketplace system of claim 1, wherein a selected third-partyprovider server of the one or more third-party provider servers providesa predetermined provider resource for purchase.
 8. The dynamic computermarketplace system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined providerresource is offered for purchase on a per-use basis, aconfiguration-used basis or an hourly basis.
 9. The dynamic computermarketplace system of claim 1, wherein said central control systemprovides a listing of available provider resources for presentation. 10.The dynamic computer marketplace system of claim 1, wherein another ofthe one or more currency units is based upon one or more common metricsselected from a group consisting of an execution time for a selectedbenchmark for compute, size, input/output operations per second, andbandwidth for storage.
 11. The dynamic computer marketplace system ofclaim 1, wherein said central control system is configured forfacilitating a purchase of the one or more currency units, a sale of theone or more currency units, or a combination thereof.
 12. The dynamiccomputer marketplace system of claim 1, wherein said central controlsystem is configured for managing one or more account balances.
 13. Thedynamic computer marketplace system of claim 1, wherein said centralcontrol system aggregates selected computing resources of the pluralityof computing resources.
 14. The dynamic computer marketplace system ofclaim 13, wherein the selected computing resources include at least oneservice-based resource, at least one batch-based resource or acombination thereof.
 15. A dynamic supply and demand computermarketplace method carried out by a central control system comprising atleast one of a computer and a server, the method comprising:implementing the dynamic supply and demand computer marketplace suchthat the dynamic supply and demand computer marketplace includes atleast futures and commodity pricing for a plurality of computingresource capabilities; enabling communication among a central controlsystem and a plurality of computing resources, wherein at least one ofthe plurality of computing resources includes one or more third-partyprovider servers that provide a software developer's kit to the dynamicsupply and demand computer marketplace, and wherein each of theplurality of computing resources include access to at least one of theplurality of computing resource capabilities; making a currency unitavailable for a network capability, wherein the currency unit is basedat least in part on bandwidth and latency for networking; allowing eachof the plurality of computing resource capabilities to be purchased,sold, and exchanged using the one or more currency units, wherein atleast one of the plurality of computing resource capabilities ispresentable as a commodity and futures; providing to a first provider,by the dynamic supply and demand computer marketplace, accesses toinformation including pricing, demand, utilization rates, and terms ofall the plurality of computing resource capabilities for sale on thedynamic supply and demand computer marketplace, including competitorinformation; offering, by the first provider, at least one of theplurality of computing resource capabilities for sale on the dynamicsupply and demand computer marketplace; purchasing, by a user, the atleast one computing resource capability from the first provider usingthe one or more currency units; re-pricing, by the user, the purchasedcomputing resource capability on the dynamic supply and demand computermarketplace, wherein the re-pricing includes a futures and commodityprice; offering, by the user, the re-priced purchased computing resourcecapability on the dynamic supply and demand computer marketplace; basedon the offered re-priced purchased computing resource capability,providing an option to the first provider to adjust pricing to the atleast one of the plurality of computing resource capabilities offered bythe provider; and maintaining the dynamic supply and demand computermarketplace via the central control system, wherein the central controlsystem comprises at least one of a computer system and a server system.16. The method of claim 15, further comprising making additionalcurrency units available for a compute capability, a storage capability,a network capability or a combination thereof.
 17. The method of claim16 further comprising facilitating a purchase of the currency unit andthe additional currency units, a sale of the currency unit and theadditional currency units, or a combination thereof, wherein at leastone of the plurality of computing resources includes one or moresupercomputer centers.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprisingoffering a predetermined provider resource for purchase on a per-usebasis, a configuration-used basis or an hourly basis.